It is beyond tragic that Anil Nandlall, one of the leading voices of the PPP/C, would stand in front of a crowd at Stabroek Market Square and utter such disgraceful words, not only trivialising the horrors of slavery but also openly insulting the intelligence and dignity of African Guyanese. To refer to Cuffy, Guyana’s National Hero, as “a proud and upstanding house slave” is not just a slap in the face of our history—it’s an outright distortion of the struggles endured by generations of Africans who were brutally enslaved. To say there is “nothing wrong with being a house-slave” is to insult the very foundation of our liberation, our pride, and our fight for freedom.
For Cuffy, a warrior who fought tooth and nail for the dignity and liberty of his people, to be reduced to a “house slave” is to ignore the trauma and pain that comes with the legacy of enslavement. Cuffy was far more than a “house slave”; he was a revolutionary, a symbol of resistance, who fought for justice, equality, and freedom. He stood against the system that sought to dehumanise him and his ancestors, not as someone to be content in servitude, but as a leader who believed in the worth of every African and their right to self-determination.
Nandlall’s remark is not just ignorant; it is malicious. To praise the concept of house slavery—where those enslaved lived in the master’s house, subjected to psychological and physical abuse—is not only historically inaccurate, it is deeply offensive. House slaves were often more closely surveilled, more openly brutalised, and more stripped of their humanity than field slaves. For Nandlall to even remotely suggest that there’s “nothing wrong” with such a dehumanising condition is an affront to the memory of every African ancestor who fought to break free of such chains.
But this is not an isolated incident. Anil Nandlall’s pattern of disrespect towards Black and African Guyanese extends far beyond this one unfortunate statement. His government has, time and time again, sought to belittle the voices of Black Guyanese who dare to exercise their democratic right to support any party other than the PPP/C. His attacks are not just political—they are deeply personal and racially charged.
For years, the PPP/C has insulted, belittled, and denigrated anyone who dares to challenge them, but it is African Guyanese who often bear the brunt of these attacks. To call those who do not support the PPP/C “Big Batty African” or “House Slave” is an unforgivable violation of the very dignity that Cuffy fought for. It is a deeply hurtful and divisive attempt to sow racial division by using derogatory terms that hark back to a time of unimaginable suffering and oppression.
These words aren’t just reckless; they are part of a pattern that has been growing more aggressive over the years. We’ve seen it in the government’s public denouncement of Black leaders and Black voices in opposition parties, seen it in the way African Guyanese communities have been treated as second-class citizens, silenced, and ridiculed for daring to disagree with the powers that be. This ongoing disrespect isn’t accidental—it’s systemic. The PPP/C’s attacks on Black Guyanese supporters go beyond words—they permeate every policy and decision that’s made at the highest levels, stripping away any semblance of inclusivity or equality.
But let’s not forget Cuffy’s true story—he was a symbol of resistance, not submission. Cuffy’s experiences of slavery were rooted in the brutal reality of plantation life, where he was forced into hard labour under horrific conditions, stripped of his identity, his culture, and his humanity. His fight for freedom was not one of compliance or submission to a house slave role; it was a fight to destroy the very system that sought to enslave him and his people. To twist Cuffy’s legacy into something of complacency with slavery is a betrayal of everything he stood for.
Let’s be clear: the words of Anil Nandlall are not the product of a slip-up or “lack of clarity”—they are the reflection of a mindset that continues to undermine African Guyanese in this country. His apology, offered only after widespread backlash, is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to salvage his political reputation in the wake of his own offensive words. It is not enough. The harm is done, and his continued rhetoric needs to be held accountable.
The message is loud and clear: those who oppose the PPP/C, particularly Black Guyanese who exercise their right to vote for other parties, will be labelled and demeaned. If this isn’t a call for division, I don’t know what is. Nandlall’s words should not be swept under the rug with an apology that tries to downplay the true nature of his disrespect. His comments and the government’s continuous attacks on Black Guyanese supporters should be condemned at every level.
This isn’t just an isolated incident; it’s an ongoing pattern. The insult to Cuffy, the disrespect to Black Guyanese, the endless dehumanisation—it has to stop. The time for words is over. Now is the time for action. If Nandlall and the PPP/C truly value unity, then they must stop using divisive rhetoric to stoke the flames of hatred and division among the people of Guyana. They must stop attacking Black Guyanese and disrespecting their choices, their heritage, and their very existence.
This isn’t just about politics—it’s about the future of our nation. We cannot and will not stand for this disrespect any longer. Cuffy fought for freedom and dignity. So should we. The fight is not over—the struggle continues.